Claud Butler Gran Sport
ugo.santalucia
Posts: 28,317
Here's my fiancé bike... it has been a long journey since purchasing the frame, a 1960s Claud Butler in Reynolds 531. Basically nothing was compatible and drill and file have been my best friends to make it into something rideable.
The star of the show is a 1952 Gran Sport derailleur, the first and original version of Tullio Campagnolo patent. It works flawlessly. The rest is a mix of Campagnolo parts and some modern ones. Chicken brake levers as she never familiarised with aero brake levers.
A few tricks to make the long drops compatible with a frame designed for bigger rims. 42 teeth ring at the front and 5 speed 14-26 freewheel rear. Panaracer Pasela tyres for extra stability and comfort. It is a very nice bike to ride, super compliant and half the way between a racer and a Pashley.
The star of the show is a 1952 Gran Sport derailleur, the first and original version of Tullio Campagnolo patent. It works flawlessly. The rest is a mix of Campagnolo parts and some modern ones. Chicken brake levers as she never familiarised with aero brake levers.
A few tricks to make the long drops compatible with a frame designed for bigger rims. 42 teeth ring at the front and 5 speed 14-26 freewheel rear. Panaracer Pasela tyres for extra stability and comfort. It is a very nice bike to ride, super compliant and half the way between a racer and a Pashley.
left the forum March 2023
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Comments
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Sweet, are you kitting your beloved out in period costume too when aboard :-)Yellow is the new Black.0
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smidsy wrote:Sweet, are you kitting your beloved out in period costume too when aboard :-)
Yes, she has done the 70 Km Anjou Velo Vintage in period costume...left the forum March 20230 -
You sir have an eye for detail - I like that. Well done that man...carry on :-)Yellow is the new Black.0
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smidsy wrote:You sir have an eye for detail - I like that. Well done that man...carry on :-)
Well, I would have liked a proper single chain set, rather than a botched one, maybe a decent set of rims, rather than the Open Sport and maybe I'll have to rethink the handlebar, but overall it is very enjoyable to ride, which is the most important thing.
With a bigger budget, one can do much betterleft the forum March 20230 -
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Cracking job. I guess the rear caliper is on the 'other' side because it didn't have the reach to put it the 'normal' side? It does make the top tube look a bit crowded with cable clips and frame guides. Minor niggle, but the rest, I love it!0
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Yes, that is the reason... of course the pads need to be swapped... there are cable guides that can be used on the top tube, but they are rounded and I haven't found any ferrule that fits them nicely...inseine wrote:Cracking job. I guess the rear caliper is on the 'other' side because it didn't have the reach to put it the 'normal' side? It does make the top tube look a bit crowded with cable clips and frame guides. Minor niggle, but the rest, I love it!left the forum March 20230 -
Now that's a damn fine machine. Ultra modern carbon bikes can look the business, but just occasionally you see a real retro head-turner. This is one of those occasional moments!Still trying to convince the missus of the n+1 rule...!0
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Nice one...
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Thanks... My fiancé is into vintage things, so It was a matter of tolerating a Pashley in the house or getting her something like this.
It has been an interesting build... Basically making compatible the incompatibleleft the forum March 20230
